LEONARDO IN FORCE The european industry federations, EGF, EMF, ECF-IUF, EURO-FIET, EMCEF, and BIFU, FIOM-CGIL are partner in an ETUCO Leonardo project on EWCs which has been just accepted by the European Commission.

Project aims:

· To develop training tools for EWCs which can be specifically adapted to sectoral needs in the training programmes related to EWCs of the member unions of each EIF · To train the trainers to develop relevant EWC trainig programmes for the seven sectors · To familiarise the trainers with distance-learning techniques to facilitate an exchange of experience and materials via the internet; and, · To create a network of trainers for the EIFs and the ETUC which will lead to a dissemination of methods and contents developed during the project; and, · To facilitate a programme of continious training for the trainers.

The project will be managed by a coordinatioin group composed of one representative from ETUCO and one from each of the seven EIFs. This coordination group's task is to select the participants and to set the aims and objectives of the project which will be developed in a series of ateliers for the particpants. The training materials will mainly focus on how to improve the functioning of the EWCs but also on negotiation guidelines and techniques.

Each EIF involved is entitled to three participants who should be trainers from the EIF's member unions. Benefits of the project will, however, not simply be restricted to these participants but also to all EGF, EMF, ECF-IUF, EURO-FIET, EMCEF, BIFU, FIOM-CGIL members. EWC members in our sector stand to benefit from good quality training courses and materials. All trainers on the internet will have access to the training materials produced and will be able to echange experience.

The languages of the project and of the training material will be English, French and German.

The first of the three ateliers will take place from 21-23 March in Runφ, Sweden. The project will run until the end of 1999.